(The following is the September 19 devotional from my Next Step Devotions book. Before reading it, I suggest you read 1 Thessalonians 5 and pay close attention to verses 1-11.)
One Sunday, my wife and I returned home after our church’s evening worship service and noticed a broken door frame as we pulled into the driveway. Thieves broke into the house while we were gone and stole several items. Of course, we had no idea that would happen, or we would have remained present and on high alert.
Paul describes the coming day of the Lord – Christ’s second coming – similarly: “For you yourselves know very well that the day of the Lord will come just like a thief in the night” (v. 2). For those who do not know Christ and live in sin, “When they say, ‘Peace and security,’ then sudden destruction will come upon them, like labor pains on a pregnant woman, and they will not escape” (v. 3).
By contrast, believers should look forward to Jesus’ return. We don’t know when, but we know it will happen and long for the day. Because no one knows God’s timing, Paul wrote, “So then, let us not sleep, like the rest, but let us stay awake and be self-controlled. For those who sleep, sleep at night, and those who get drunk, get drunk at night. But since we belong to the day, let us be self-controlled and put on the armor of faith and love, and a helmet of the hope of salvation” (vv. 6-8). As Christ’s bride, the church, we stay awake and alert, eagerly awaiting our Bridegroom’s return.
The fact that Christ’s return will be a day of judgment for those who reject him should heighten our urgency in proclaiming the gospel. However, for believers, “God did not appoint us to wrath, but to obtain salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ” (v. 9). We serve a just and merciful God.
Next Step:
When did you last discuss Jesus’ second coming with others? What subjects dominated the conversation? If Paul intended to encourage Christians with 1 Thessalonians 4:13-5:11, what should be our focus regarding his return?
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